London Paralympic Games - Day 5
London Paralympic Games - Day 0
Mark Rohan
London Paralympic Games - Day 0
London Paralympic Games - Day 0
London Paralympic Games - Day 0
London Paralympic Games - Day 0
London Paralympic Games - Day 0
London Paralympics Opening Ceremony
London Paralympics Swimming
London Paralympic Games - Day 9
London Paralympic Games - Day 1
London Paralympic Games - Day 1
London Paralympic Games - Day 1
London Paralympic Games - Day 3
London Paralympic Games - Day 3
London Paralympic Games - Day 4
London Paralympic Games - Day 5
London Paralympic Games - Day 5
London Paralympic Games - Day 6
London Paralympic Games - Day 6
London Paralympic Games - Day 7
London Paralympic Games
London Paralympic Games - Day 9
Mark Rohan on his way to winning gold 7/9/2012
Catherine Walsh and Francine Meehan 2/9/2012
Michael McKillop celebrates winning gold 1/9/2012
Ireland flag bearer Cathal Miller leads in Team Ireland 29/8/2012
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Athletics Monday 3rd September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Athletics Monday 3rd September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Boccia Thursday 6th September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Boccia Thursday 6th September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Discus Throw Tuesday 4th September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Team Ireland Monday 3rd September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Team Ireland Monday 3rd September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Swimming Friday 31st August
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Swimming Training Tuesday 28th August
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Athletics Saturday 1st September
London 2012 Paralympic Games - Athletics Saturday 1st September
London Paralympic Games - Day 5
London Paralympics Athletics
London Paralympics Swimming
London Paralympics Swimming
London Paralympics Swimming
Excellent article Murray. It’s the passing that’s concerning. A basic skill, you would assume at this level it certainly ought to be dealt with in training as regards timing. It can’t be perfect in training & poor in matches. So where are the standards vs Joe time when was non negotiable. Jamie O is young but a poor passer when moving and evident since his Leinster debut. We rarely pass in front of each other, almost always static in receiving, and when there is a 1st phase move, it gets stuck in midfield on contact. Bar Hugo try v Italy, very little innovation, attempts to do so. Extremely low risk rugby SA aside, since RWC. And while we love Hugo, nothing in attack from returned kicks. Little evidence Andrew Goodman was the right choice. You can swap the above comments for Leinster too.
@Mark Kearney: agree and add the waning of our ‘power game’ – that’s another point of difference for France and England and why they both ‘destroyed’ Wales and we didn’t.
@Mark Kearney: good point. Lancaster was really hot on passing accuracy and that meant the majority of players coming into Ireland camp under him were on top of their skills. Connacht also playing attacking style since Lam. New Munster/Ulster coaches also emphasize ball handling. I think the change in style at Leinster is really having a big impact on IRL attack. Leinster players concentrate on chasing kicks and being aggressive in défense. Leinster’s attack has been really poor these last 2 seasons but their brilliant defense means they still win. Cc LRO game was case in point. Irelands last 2 6n’s were also built on solid defense btw. People like to praise the IRL attack but it’s our defence was the foundation of our attack. We conceded more tries this 6n’s than in the last 2 combined.
The key statistic is professional playing numbers. In Ireland, we have 180, France, and England have very many more. It’s probably 8 to 10 times more, especially in France. Long-term strategy is surely to have a fifth team probably off the island.
@D Farrell: agree, but we have what we have. We have to revert to having a point of difference, back to most of Joe’s time in Lein & Ireland, was passing. That you can do with existing structure, if you first accept there is an issue. I don’t think we do, and poor standards are accepted across the provinces. That’s on the coaches, and players wanting to improve.
@D Farrell: Wishful thinking, I fear. The revenue to support a 5th team does not exist. Frankly I doubt whether we have the revenue to support four. Especially if the growth of Women’s pro rugby is already acting like an additional province in terms of its financial impact
I haven’t gone back to check but I imagine what has been said (by both fans and media) about this Ireland team/players/coaches is nothing compared to what the French will have had to put up with when we did them last season. They didn’t go through a massive clean out, and I don’t think we need to either. The other provinces other than Leinster do need to pull their socks up though.
It’s no coincidence our attack faltered when Andy Farrell was away. I think it’s forgotten that he is heavily involved in Irelands innovative attack plays and his absence definitely affected this. Also it’s worth mentioning Catt started very poorly with Ireland and became instrumental in our brilliant attack over the last few years. Maybe Goodman needs time to bed in also
Being third in what many considered a two horse race can’t be considered a success .
However it reflects the approach of the Irish management based on defence . Both Irish wings selection and reputations based on their performance on a catch and kick game .
But teams have stopped kicking deep as blocking in front of the catcher is penalized and the objective is to ensure the ball is behind the defending pack . Thus the reason to pick paceless wings no longer exists .
As previously noted 9 of the 23 are over 30 whose best games are behind them .
I considered that this was last 6 nations for more than PoM Murray and Healy and the preference for Leinster Blue was undeserved by several players .
@SAMUEL T McGLADERY: Who do you think should have been picked on the wings instead of Hansen and Lowe?